"This is what America is all about - making dreams come true," said Jonathan Smith, who immediately volunteered to serve as the engineer of the B&SVRR steam locomotive after he learned about the plans for Monday's naturalization ceremony.
Originally from the United Kingdom, Smith, like the 16 children who gained citizenship as they overlooked the Des Moines River Valley, understood the significance of becoming an American.
The U.K.-born engineer, who became a naturalized U.S. citizen in 1994, is now a professor for Iowa State University's Department of Mathematics and he was eager to volunteer to lead the world's last commercially-produced steam locomotive - the JS8419 - which was built in Datong, China in 1988.
Welcoming the now-U.S. citizens and their families aboard the train was B&SVRR General Manager Fenner Stevenson and members of the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services' Des Moines Field Office. The naturalization ceremony was part of a new program developed by USCIS called "On the Road in Iowa." USCIS is hosting special children's citizenship ceremonies across the state at educational locations while taking the citizenship process outside of the traditional courtroom setting.
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As the steam locomotive approached the Des Moines River Valley, children ranging from one year of age to 18 years of age came to their feet and said the "Pledge of Allegiance" as they looked toward Old Glory. Following the pledge, 16 children from Mexico, Germany, Ukraine, Turkey, China, South Korea and the Philippines took their oaths of citizenship aboard the train on the Bass Point Creek High Bridge.
"Every time they ride this train, or every time they're going to be near this train or hear about this train, they're going to remember the day they became a citizen," said Linda J. Hartman, Field Office Director for the USCIS Des Moines Field Office.
Hartman said USCIS is aiming to select locations for ceremonies that will be memorable. Two upcoming sites include the Herbert Hoover Presidential Library in West Branch and the Fossils and Prairie Parks Preserve in Rockford.
"When we go to each location with the children, they'll always remember that specific location and the day they became citizens," Hartman said. "We want to make it something special for them because this is a special day for them. Their whole life is being changed - they have opportunities now that they were never afforded before."
Hartman explained that children who are more than 14 years old are required to take the citizenship oath, while children under 14 are not required. However, all children participated in the oath to make the ceremony a unique and special experience.
In order for the children to become citizens, Hartman said their parents must go through a lengthy process that can sometimes take up to five years.
"They have to wait until they can apply for citizenship, they have to show they're of good moral character, that they understand the history and principles of the United States and Constitution," she said. "We look at each and every application. We look at everybody on a case-by-case basis and we make a determination of their citizenship."
A NEW LIFE IN AMERICA
After becoming an official U.S. citizen, 16-year-old Ukrainian born Pavel Domnenko, of Decorah, displayed his pride in becoming an American.
"God bless you all and God bless America," he said.
Domnenko came to Iowa from Ivano-Frankivsk, Ukraine with his grandmother when he was only three years old. His nine-year-old sister, Vita Domnenko, was born in Decorah and has therefore always been a citizen. After 13 years of anticipation, Domnenko was delighted to finally call himself an American.
"It means a lot, I'm not going to lie," he said. "It really just feels good to finally become a part of the country and maybe serve later in my lifetime or vote and have all of the rights that some countries don't afford."
For Domnenko, being an official citizen is all about the pursuit of the American Dream. He said he hopes to grow up, raise a family and have a well-paying job. As a sophomore at Decorah High School, he said he is currently taking an interest in the business world and he hopes to pursue an education in accounting.
Though he has lived most of his life on American soil, Domnenko said he faced many challenges, primarily "getting over" his Ukrainian accent and learning to speak English. Now an American, he said he realizes that the two different cultures he transcends hold a strong bond for him.
"My roots are always going to be in Ukraine, but I have a new life coming up for me in America," he said. "I think it will probably help me in my future because I do know a different language very fluently so it'll probably come up with different job opportunities."
PILLARS OF BECOMING A GOOD CITIZEN
Serving as the guest speaker for the naturalization ceremony was ISU International Student and Scholar Adviser Ali Soltanshahi. Soltanshahi was born in Tehran, Iran and moved to France when he was nine years old. Last July, Soltanshahi became a U.S. citizen and he explained to the newly-named citizens that being an American presents opportunity.
"Becoming a U.S. citizen gives you many advantages," he said. "The most important one is that this is a country that gives you opportunity to improve the quality of your life and the quality of life of the ones who you love."
Since the days of colonization on the East Coast, America has been a land shaped by immigrants. Soltanshahi said it is important for Americans to reach out to other Americans by embracing differences that exist.
"You live among people who are very different than you. You may be in a classroom with folks from different countries, who look different and speak different languages and that's OK," he said. "It's very important for you to be outgoing and to try and connect with those folks."
Soltanshahi said there are three important items that he feels are crucial to becoming a good citizen: respect, education and volunteerism.
With respect, Soltanshahi told the new American citizens that they must respect one another, and that children can do so by respecting their parents and thanking them for the sacrifices they made to gain the privilege of citizenship.
He said that in the classroom, children must learn to respect their peers, despite different backgrounds, ethnicities and religions, and to speak to them and learn about their values.
While education is becoming increasingly important for today's youth, Soltanshahi told the 16 children that they should make it a goal to learn and listen on a daily basis.
"You guys are in the prime age of learning - this is a great opportunity for you," he said. "Continue to learn every day. Learning is people's way to surpass themselves and better themselves. Every day when you wake up in the morning, wake up with joy and be thankful for what you have in your life."
Volunteerism has long been a difference maker in American communities, and Soltanshahi said volunteering is where young citizens can connect with their communities in a positive manner.
With the liberties that Americans enjoy, Soltanshahi said it is every citizen's duty to be appreciative of the freedoms that they have inherited while remembering where they came from.
"Embrace your new country while not forgetting where you're coming from and do not forget your values," he said.
For Hartman, watching the 16 children gain citizenship on Monday was an opportunity to see a generation help their children realize what it means to be an American, and that a bright future lies ahead.
"Just to see the smiles on their faces and their excitement and to know that you're affecting their lives and that you're making their day special, from this day forward, what they're doing for the generations to come in their family is just amazing and I commend them all," she said. "I get the shivers when I look at all of the little kids and think about the futures that they have here in America."
Reach staff writer Matt Oliver at moliver@newsrepublican.com.
